Kitchen dam
Kitchen
Kitchen is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Sublette, Wyoming, specifically in the city of Pinedale. Constructed in 1966, this Earth dam stands at 17 feet high and spans a length of 500 feet along Duck Creek. With a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5 square miles, Kitchen serves the primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area.
Despite being regulated by the state's SEO agency and undergoing regular inspections, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor as of October 2017. Classified as a low hazard potential structure with a moderate risk level, Kitchen poses some concerns for its surrounding community. With a spillway width of 18 feet and two valve outlet gates, the dam is equipped for controlled water release in case of emergency, although there are no current Emergency Action Plans in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kitchen serves as an intriguing case study of a privately owned irrigation dam in Wyoming that is essential for agricultural purposes but also raises questions about its maintenance and potential risks. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the condition and management of structures like Kitchen is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Kitchen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green River At Warren Bridge | 841 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Above Fremont Lake | 549 cfs | → |
| New Fork River Near Big Piney | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Dinwoody Creek Above Lakes | 178 cfs | → |
| Bull Lake Creek Above Bull Lake | 554 cfs | → |
| Wind River Above Red Creek | 1,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kitchen.
Boat launches
- Green River Access Site 2 Boat Launch
- Green River Access Site 1 Boat Ramp
- Green River Access Site 3 Boat Launch
- Fremont Lake Boat Ramp
- Green River Access Site 5 Boat Ramp
- Green River Access Site 6 Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Willow Lake
- Green River Access Site 2 Campsite 1
- Green River Access Site 2 Campsite 2
- Warren Bridge Campsite 12
- Warren Bridge Campsite 14
- Warren Bridge Campsite 10
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Kitchen in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Kitchen
Where does the data for Kitchen come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Kitchen.